List of Kansas landmarks facts for kids
Kansas is a state in the middle of the United States, full of interesting places to visit! These special spots, called landmarks, tell stories about Kansas's history, famous people, and amazing natural beauty. From homes of presidents to museums filled with space rockets, there's a lot to explore.
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Famous Homes
Kansas is home to several houses where important people once lived. These homes are now places you can visit to learn about their lives.
Dwight D. Eisenhower's Boyhood Home
In Abilene, you can visit the boyhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He grew up to become a famous general and later the 34th President of the United States! His presidential library and his grave are also in Abilene.
Carrie Nation's House
The house of Carrie Nation is in Medicine Lodge. Carrie Nation was a well-known activist who fought against alcohol in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Her home is now a museum.
Frederick Funston's Boyhood Home
In Iola, you can find the boyhood home of General Frederick Funston. He was a brave army soldier who served in several wars.
Exciting Museums
Kansas has many museums where you can discover everything from space travel to ancient fossils!
Evel Knievel Museum
The Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka celebrates the life of the famous daredevil, Evel Knievel. It has many of his personal items and motorcycles.
John Brown Museum
The John Brown museum is located in Osawatomie. John Brown was an important figure who fought against slavery before the American Civil War.
Oz Museum
Step into the magical world of Oz at the Oz Museum in Wamego. It has a fun recreation of Dorothy's farm house from The Wizard of Oz movie.
Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center
The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson is an amazing place for space fans. It has one of the largest collections of Russian space program items outside of Moscow. You can also see the Apollo 13 command module and an SR-71 Blackbird spy plane!
Kansas Museum of History
The Kansas Museum of History in Topeka is the official state museum. It tells the story of Kansas from its earliest days to modern times.
Sternberg Museum of Natural History
In Hays, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History shows off incredible fossils. Many of these were found by Charles Hazelius Sternberg, a famous fossil hunter.
Historical Places
These landmarks help us remember important events and people from Kansas's past.
Chisholm Trail
Abilene was the end of the famous Chisholm Trail. This was a path where cowboys herded cattle all the way from Texas to be loaded onto trains.
Constitution Halls
Kansas has two important Constitution Halls. In Lecompton, one hall is where a government group met in 1857 to write a constitution that supported slavery. In Topeka, another hall is where a different government group met in 1855 to write a constitution that was against slavery. These buildings show the big debates Kansas had before becoming a state.
Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant
The Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto opened in 1942. It made gunpowder and other materials for weapons during World War II. This huge plant was built on land that used to be over 100 farms.
Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence is on the campus of the University of Kansas. It holds a very large collection of papers from Senator Robert J. Dole, an important politician.
Boot Hill Museum
The Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City takes you back to the Old West. It has many items and stories from that exciting time.
Dalton Defenders Museum
In Coffeyville, the Dalton Defenders Museum honors the townspeople who bravely defended their town. They fought against the Dalton Gang who tried to rob banks there on October 5, 1892.
Historic Concordia
Concordia is home to the beautiful Brown Grand Theatre. It also has Camp Concordia, which was a prisoner of war camp during World War II.
Debruce Center
The Debruce Center at the University of Kansas has a very special item: the original rules of basketball! These rules were written by James Naismith, who invented the sport.
Halls of Fame
Halls of Fame celebrate people or things that have achieved great success.
Greyhound Hall of Fame
The Greyhound Hall of Fame is located in Abilene. It honors famous greyhound dogs and their racing history.
National Teachers Hall of Fame
In Emporia, you'll find the National Teachers Hall of Fame. It celebrates amazing teachers from all over the United States.
National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame
The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs honors the history and people of farming and agriculture.
Natural Wonders
Kansas has some incredible natural landmarks, shaped by wind and water over millions of years.
Big Basin Prairie Preserve
Big Basin Prairie Preserve in Clark County has two huge sinkholes called Big Basin and Little Basin. These are large dips in the ground formed when the earth collapses.
Arikaree Breaks
The Arikaree Breaks are a type of rugged land called badlands in Cheyenne County, Kansas. They have steep hills and deep gullies.
Cimarron National Grassland
The Cimarron National Grassland in Morton County is the largest area of public land in Kansas. It's a vast open space of grasslands.
Monument Rocks
Monument Rocks are amazing chalk formations in western Kansas. They look like giant sculptures, with arches and towers carved by nature.
Castle Rock
Near Quinter, Kansas, you can see the chalk formation called Castle Rock (Kansas). It looks like a medieval castle and is surrounded by more badlands.
Rock City
Rock City, Kansas is a unique place with huge, round sandstone boulders. Some of these rocks are as big as houses!
Other Unique Landmarks
Kansas also has some truly one-of-a-kind landmarks!
Biggest Ball of Twine
In Cawker City, you can see the Biggest ball of twine. It was started on August 15, 1953, and people still add to it today!
Big Well
The Big Well in Greensburg is the world's largest hand-dug well. It's an incredible example of human effort.
Big Brutus
Big Brutus is a giant electric strip mining shovel on display in West Mineral, Kansas. It's one of the largest machines ever built and is still around today.
Norman Number 1 Replica
Near the chamber of commerce building in Neodesha, you can see a replica of Norman Number 1. This was supposedly the very first oil derrick (a structure used to drill for oil) west of the Mississippi River.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in Kansas
- List of oldest buildings on Kansas colleges and universities
